DOG TRAINING ATLANTA

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Training dogs using positive reinforcement and reward training has long been recognized as both highly effective for the owner and a positive experience for the dog. Positive reinforcement training is so important that it is the only method used to train dangerous animals like lions and tigers for work in circuses and in the movie and television industry.

Proponents of positive reinforcement swear by the effectiveness of their techniques, and it is true that the vast majority of dogs respond well to these training methods.

One reason that positive reinforcement training is so effective is that is uses rewards to teach the dog what is expected of it. When the dog performs the desired behavior, he is provided with a reward, most often in the form of a food treat, but it could be a scratch behind the ears, a rub under the chin or a pat on the head as well. The important thing is that the dog is rewarded consistently for doing the right thing.

Reward training has become increasingly popular in recent years, but chances are some sort of reward training between humans and dogs has been going on for hundreds if not thousands of years.

When understanding what makes reward training so effective, some knowledge of the history of humans and dogs is very helpful. The earliest dogs were probably wolf pups that were tamed and used by early humans for protection from predators, as alarm systems and later for guarding and herding livestock.

It is possible that the wolf pups that made the best companions were the most easily trained, or it is possible that these early dogs were orphaned or abandoned wolf pups. Whatever their origin, there is little doubt today that the vast variety of dogs we see today have their origin in the humble wolf.

Wolf packs, like packs of wild dogs, operate on a strict pack hierarchy. Since wolf and dog packs hunt as a group, this type of hierarchy, and the cooperation it brings, is essential to the survival of the species. Every dog in the pack knows his or her place in the pack, and except in the event of death or injury, the hierarchy, once established, rarely changes.

Every dog, therefore, is hard wired by nature to look to the pack leader for guidance. The basis of all good dog training, including reward based training, is for the handler to set him or herself up as the pack leader. The pack leader is more than just the dominant dog, or the one who tells all the subordinates what to do. More importantly, the pack leader provides leadership and protection, and his or her leadership is vital to the success and survival of the pack.

It is important for the dog to see itself as part of a pack, to recognize the human as the leader of that pack, and to respect his or her authority. Some dogs are much easier to dominate than others. If you watch a group of puppies playing for a little while, you will quickly recognize the dominant and submissive personalities.

A dog with a more submissive personality will generally be easier to train using positive reinforcement, since he or she will not want to challenge the handler for leadership. Even dominant dogs, however, respond very well to positive reinforcement. There are, in fact, few dogs that do not respond well to positive reinforcement, also known as reward training.

Positive reinforcement is also the best way to retrain a dog that has behavior problems, especially one that has been abused in the past. Getting the respect and trust of an abused dog can be very difficult, and positive reinforcement is better than any other training method at creating this important bond.

No matter what type of dog you are working with, chances are it can be helped with positive reinforcement training methods. Based training methods on respect and trust, rather than on intimidation and fear, is the best way to get the most from any dog.

Guidelines for House Training Your Puppy

House training your puppy is the most important thing your new pet needs to learn. Aside from the preservation of your general domestic hygiene, trained dogs are contented dogs. As creatures of habit, they work best when they have a schedule. Here is how you ought to housebreak your puppy:

House Training Your Puppy Is Your First Order Of Business

Best Housebreaking Age

The best time to start training your new puppy is when you first bring him home. Usually that will be at an age of about 8 to 12 weeks. At that age, you should try to get your pup out every two hours or so.

Using a Crate Helps

Dog trainers recommend using a crate in housebreaking your puppy. A crate is similar to a cage, having you can see through bars and a locking door that locks. Its area ought to fit sufficiently the dogs dimensions for it to move about in. It ought to be utilized similar to a dog’s bedroom.

The idea for using a crate in housebreaking your puppy is that dogs would not foul the area where they sleep. Nevertheless, he may do so if you confine him in somewhere for longer than he can keep hold it. This is a very short time for young puppies, but as they get older, the times can be extended. (hint: At no time should you use a crate to penalize your dog. That will backfire on you.)

Teach Your Puppy To Learn Routines

As you house train your dog, try to take him out the same door each time. This establishes a routine, and soon the dog will start to go to that door when he needs to go out.

Taking your pup out at approximately the identical times every day would be extremely useful for the both of you. This would assist in establishing a habit, and would force him learn to hold off Nature’s call until the usual time. You can extend the time as the dog gets older until it is possible to leave him alone all day.

Watch For Clues

Keep an eye on your pooch for tell-tale signs. Some of the signs include a lot of sniffing, circling around the room, staring at the door with a strong expression on his face, etc. If you discover him as he is relieving himself, halt him using a rapid snatch of his collar and draw it up at the same time asserting “No” using your bass, strict tone. Subsequently, accompany him into the outdoors and let him conclude what he had started. Afterwards, pat him on his head while stating “Good (his name)!” It is a must to have your dog get accustomed to getting praised whenever he does anything that makes you pleased. Offering him treats as a bonus whenever he does his business in the appropriate place can be very useful, too.

It is not a good idea to punish him for having an “accident.” So don’t rub his nose in it or beat him with a newspaper. These punishments will lead to future problems.

Always clean up any mess immediately and use a deodorizer to remove the smell.

Being Patient is Will Keep You Sane

House training your puppy takes patience. Don’t expect to be done with the training in a day or two. And don’t stop until he has it “down pat.” An occasional accident means that he is not house trained yet. Keep at it until there are no accidents.

Good luck!

At Dog Training Atlanta, we recognize that there are a few common problems that really frustrate dog owners. One of those problems involves urination when your pooch is excited.

The term for this among dog trainers is Submissive Urination.

Exactly what does submissive urination mean?

It is simply a dog who gets overly excited or stressed at certain times and ends up urinating on the floor, and sometimes he soils himself or you or, worse, your guests. It could happen when you come home from being away, when someone knocks on the door or rings the doorbell, or when you are reprimanding the dog for some reason.

What causes Submissive Urination?

The most common “problem dogs” are puppies. However, it can also be a problem with adult dogs. Mostly the cause in adults is when the breed is quite sensitive or perhaps the product of an abusive background (or a combination of the two).

Most common times for submissive urination:

• Owner arriving home after being away
• Excitement during play time
• A knock on the door or ringing of the doorbell due to the arrival of guests
• Stressful times involving the pet owners such as family arguments
• When you are correcting your dog (yelling at him)
• Sudden loud noises (thunder, fireworks)

What can you do about submissive urination?

The good news is that it is usually easy to “cure” your dog of this embarrassing and annoying problem. But before you begin, you should take him to the Vet to rule out any medical problems. Undetected medical issues such as bladder infection or even doggy diabetes can be the cause.

After ruling out medical issues, it’s time for YOU to take control of the problem:

• Sometimes, the problem can stem from a juvenile bladder or lack of control over the bladder. You can be proactive when you know that you will be playing with him or you know guests will be arriving. Move his water bowl so he can’t over-indulge before the expected time of excitement. Don’t restrict his water intake for a long period of time, but if you know there’s a situation coming which would normally result in urination, that’s when you can try this strategy.
• Think about how you greet your dog when you arrive home. Keep your greeting calm and mellow. The more excited he is, the harder it is for him to control his bladder. Your first appearance is not a good time to get him all worked up, even if his excite makes you feel good. In fact, try to ignore him for the first few moments, or give him a neutral “hello”, a quick pat, and act like you never left.
• Be careful not to punish your dog severely or harshly when he has an “accident.” He is not doing this to punish you, and he may be trying without success. It certainly is not being done on purpose. When you catch him in the act, you can interrupt him (a firm “No!” followed by praise when he stops should suffice) but don’t punish him. Keep your cool, and try to be sympathetic: he doesn’t mean to do it, after all!
• Often, dogs urinate due to the excitement of being punished. If you find it necessary to scold your dog, try to do it in a different way. Hold the noise level down, be firm but non-threatening. You can still have authority in your voice and be less excited and less angry. He can sense your anger and become very stressed because of it.  Remember, you’re dealing with a sensitive, highly-strung dog: if you get angry or worry him further, the problem will worsen.

Hopefully, these few tips will help you to deal with your dog’s submissive urination issues. If you still have problems, do not hesitate to contact one of the professionals listed on these pages, or at least take advantage of the online resources to dig deeper into the problem. It is a very sad situation when the dog is in control of the household.

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